Jogging forbidden at area refuges since speed can distress animals

Apr. 21, 2013

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Statesman Journal

This sign, posted fairly recently at a popular trailhead at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, informs visitors that no jogging is allowed. Jogging is not allowed at any of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex / Zach Urness / Statesman Journal

This sign, posted fairly recently at a popular trailhead at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, informs visitors that no jogging is allowed. Jogging is now allowed at any of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex. / Zach Urness / Statesman Journal

This sign, posted fairly recently at a popular trailhead at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, informs visitors that no jogging is allowed. Jogging is now allowed at any of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex. / Zach Urness / Statesman Journal

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Head to a popular trailhead in Oregon, and there’s a good chance you’ll find a set of rules.

The trail might prohibit mountain bikes or dogs, could require a permit or forbid the use of campfires.

It’s the price of entry at some of the state’s most beautiful places.

But at the wildlife refuges of the Willamette Valley — Baskett Slough, Ankeny, and William L. Finley — the trail system features a regulation almost nobody would expect:

No jogging.

Or running, for that matter.

While hiking is perfectly legal — and even hunting is allowed at Finley NWR during autumn — too much speed could get you a warning and possible fine.

Few people knew about the rule until recently, when a “no jogging” sign appeared at a popular trailhead at Baskett Slough NWR.

“I had no idea,” said Tracy Gannaway, a runner who lives across from Baskett Slough in Rickreall. “It seems kind of silly. Runners and hikers put pretty much the same amount of wear on the trails. And this is Oregon, we run everywhere.”

Although the rule isn’t widely known — and most refuge trailheads aren’t marked with a “no jogging” sign — the regulation has been in place for years.

“It might be a new sign, but jogging has never been allowed in the (Willamette) wildlife refuges,” said Jock Beall, Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex biologist. “We do see people out running. We just stop them and explain the rules.

“We tell them it’s not a park, it’s a wildlife refuge.”

Why the prohibition against running?

In a nutshell, it was determined an “incompatible use” in the refuges’ comprehensive conservation plan.

“One of the challenges with jogging is that it could have an adverse impact on wildlife in the process of breeding,” said Miel Corbett, deputy assistant regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Activities with higher speeds can be disruptive and cause stress to the animals. We identify compatible uses on a refuge by refuge basis — we just look at which activities are best for each one.”

Bicycles, horseback riding and pets also are prohibited on the trails at Willamette Valley refuges, and jogging is prohibited at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge.

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Hiking, wildlife observation, environmental education and photography are encouraged. Deer hunting with both shotguns and bows is allowed during autumn at Finley NWR.

“To allow hunting and not jogging really surprises me,” said Tim Johnson, a trip leader with the Salem Audubon Society. “I feel for joggers who just want to be out in a beautiful place, and I’m surprised that it’s forbidden.”

Still, considering the fact that running is forbidden in so few other places, some runners weren’t bothered by the restriction.

“You don’t hear of many places that outlaw jogging, and typically any place you’re allowed to hike you’re allowed to run,” said Gary Terlecki, director of Run Wild Adventures, a group that hosts races across the Willamette Valley.

“But the wildlife refuges are more about bird watching, and if fast movement scares the animals than I could see why they wouldn’t want people out there running,” Terlecki said.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer in Oregon for five years and blogs at statesmanjournal.com/ outdoors. He can be reached at zurness@Statesman Journal.com or (503) 399-6801. For more, see Our Oregon Outdoors on Facebook or ZachsOR outdoors on Twitter.

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